The realization of “a society in which women shine” is a guiding principle of Japan’s policy both domestically and overseas. Since the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe, announced this principle in his address to the Sixty-eighth Session of the General Assembly two years ago, Japan has spared no effort to realize the empowerment of women.

Mr. Chair,

Please allow me to introduce some of the efforts and initiatives that we have done so far. Domestically, over the past three years, more than 90 thousand women have entered the Japanese labor market. The percentage of women among newly-hired national public servants in Japan has exceeded 30 %. We are steadily moving ahead to our target that about 30% of leadership positions in the Japanese society be occupied by women by 2020.

This year marks 15th anniversary since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. In accordance with this resolution, Japan has designed its own National Action Plan with the cooperation of domestic civil society groups. We will steadily implement this Action Plan.

At the end of August, a new UN-Women Liaison Office was opened in Tokyo. Prime Minister Abe attended the opening ceremony together with the UN Women Executive Director Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and offered congratulatory remarks. We hope that this office will be a bastion for the movement for gender equality and play an important role in the Asia and the Pacific region.

Mr. Chair,

In accordance with the Prime Minister’s pledge two years ago, Japan has been steadily implementing assistance in excess of 3 billion dollars over three years aimed chiefly at the advancement of the status of women.

As part of these efforts, Japan’s contributions to UN-Women have increased tenfold over the past two years. In June, Prime Minister Abe was selected as one of the ten Head-of-State IMPACT champions of UN-Women’s “HeForShe” campaign. During his visit to New York last month, Prime Minister Abe hosted a dinner with other IMPACT champions as well as UN-Women Executive Director Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. On this occasion, they had a productive dialogue, which strengthened their leadership and cooperation toward gender equality.

Furthermore, following last year, Japan once again hosted The World Assembly for Women: “WAW! 2015” in Tokyo. With comprehensive discussions on a variety of issues related to gender equality, we compiled suggestions for action in the “WAW! To Do 2015” outcome document, which has already been published as an official UN document as A/C.3/70/3.

Mr. Chair,

The aforementioned notwithstanding, the advancement of women’s status is still a critical challenge in our country and throughout the world. To this end, in August, Japan enacted a new law to promote the active engagement of women in society. By realizing a society where women can fully exercise their abilities, we will be able to build a vibrant country.

In order to continue to support women’s empowerment overseas, Japan has reformed its Official Development Aid (ODA) charter for the first time in 12 years and inserted language on the importance of promoting women’s participation. Over the next three years, Japan will implement assistance in excess of 350 million dollars in order to ensure quality education for all people, and in particular toward the empowerment of women and girls.

I would like to commend Ms. Yoko Hayashi, the chair of the Committee on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women for her untiring efforts for women’s empowerment and gender equality. Japan will continue to cooperate and work together with CEDAW.

Next year, Japan will serve as the host country for the G7 Ise-Shima Summit. As Summit Chair, Japan will continue to vigorously promote an agenda cognizant of women’s issues, and will take the lead in realizing the advancement of status of women.

Mr. Chair,

This year is a new beginning. We must follow-up on Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action after 20 years, and begin vigorous implementation of 2030 Agenda. Japan will continue to work with the international community and to realize “a society in which women shine”.